Graphic definition of range in the selection of data from a database field

Abstract

A system, program and method for interfacing a human user to an indexed field of data from a database. The invention is particularly directed to the definition of a BETWEEN argument in a database query. A ruler is linearly related to the data in the field. Individually movable tacks are positioned along the ruler to define the boundaries of a range in direct correspondence to a range of data from within the field. Dialog blocks are provided for alphanumeric entry and readout of tack location data. In a preferred form, the ruler also provides control blocks which are individually related to the tacks and are suitable to increment or decrement the tack values as relates to the data in the field.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for interfacing a user to data stored in a data processing database, comprising: means for visually depicting on a graphical display a field of data from the database;   user operable means for specifying a range from within the field of data; and   means for depicting on the graphical display the specified range referenced to the means for depicting the field of data.   
     
     
       2. The system recited in claim 1, further comprising a graphical means for selectively varying the specified range. 
     
     
       3. The system recited in claim 2, wherein the user operable means for specifying includes alphanumeric entry means for specifying the range. 
     
     
       4. The system recited in claim 3, wherein the field is from a relational database. 
     
     
       5. The system recited in claim 4, wherein the means for visually depicting a field of data is a ruler bar, and the means for graphically depicting the specified range includes boundary markers referenced to the ruler bar. 
     
     
       6. The system recited in claim 5, wherein the user operable means for specifying a range selects a closest value when varied in response to a translation of a boundary marker. 
     
     
       7. The system recited in claim 6, wherein the means for selectively varying the specified range comprise means for incrementing and for decrementing. 
     
     
       8. The system recited in claim 2, wherein the field is from a relational database. 
     
     
       9. The system recited in claim 8, wherein the means for visually depicting a field of data is a ruler bar, and the means for graphically depicting the specified range includes boundary marker referenced to the ruler bar. 
     
     
       10. The system recited in claim 9, wherein the user operable means for specifying a range selects a closest value when varied in response to a translation of a boundary marker. 
     
     
       11. The system recited in claim 10, wherein the means for selectively varying the specified range comprises means for incrementing and for decrementing. 
     
     
       12. A method of interfacing a human user to data in a database, comprising the steps of: graphically depicting on a workstation display a field of data from the database;   user specifying by graphically defined boundary markers a range within the field of data;   relating the graphically defined boundary markers to data within the field of data; and   user modifying the range by repositioning the boundary markers.   
     
     
       13. The method recited in claim 12, wherein the steps of user specifying creates a proportional relationship between the locations of the graphically depicted boundary markers and the field of data. 
     
     
       14. The method recited in claim 13 where the database is relational.